Abstract

Objective: To investigate the long-term effects of a cognitive remediation programme for adolescents with early onset psychosis.

Method: Twenty-five subjects (cognitive remediation, n = 14; control, n = 11) were assessed on cognitive, clinical and psychosocial measures 1 year after discharge. All patients had received a psychoeducational programme, while the experimental group received the addition of a 30-h cognitive remediation programme.

Results: A significant overall improvement for eight of 10 cognitive and three of four outcome measures was found. After controlling for IQ, there was a differential improvement in early visual information processing (P < 0.05) in favour of the remediation group. No other between-group differences were found.

Conclusion: The remediation programme may have a favourable long-term effect for early visual information processing. Improved cognitive functioning in both groups may be caused by beneficial elements in the psychoeducational programme. Because the study may be underpowered, the results should be interpreted with caution.